Curtain tracks

ABSTRACT

A bracket system for supporting a curtain track comprises a first bracket secured to wall or ceiling, a second bracket carrying the track and an optional third bracket. The curtaincarrying bracket can be secured to the first bracket either directly so as to be near thereto or indirectly through the third bracket, which forms a spacer. The connection in each case is a pair of laterally spaced-apart arms on one bracket with a recess in the top of each arm and a projection on the underside of each arm, and a portion on the other bracket fitting between the two arms, said portion of said other bracket having a first pair of projections pivotally resting in the recess and a second pair of projections engaging the projections on the undersides of the arms to form a snap-in fastening.

ited States Patent 1 1 Turner [21] Appl. No.: 197,734

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 16, 1970 Great Britain 54506/70 [52] US. Cl 248/263, 16/94 D, 248/223 [51] Int. Cl. A47h l/l0, A47h-5/14 [58] Field of Search 248/261, 262, 254, 252, 255, 248/256,. 257, 258, 264,265, 259, 260, 223,

' [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,508 7/1932 Stewart.I 287/103 R 3,447,150 8/1948 Anderson 287/103 R UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 16/94 D 3/1959v Great Britain .1 248/262 6/1955 France 287/103 R 57 ABSTRACT A bracket system for supporting a curtain track comprises a first bracket secured to wall or ceiling, a second bracket carrying the track and an optional third bracket. The curtain-carrying bracket can be secured to the first bracket either directly so as to be near thereto or indirectly through the third bracket, which forms a spacer. The connectionin each case is a pair of laterally spaced-apart arms on one bracket with a recess in the top of each arm and a projection on the underside of each arm, and a portion on the other bracket fitting between the two arms, said portion of said other bracket having a first pair of projections pivotally resting in the recess and a second pair of projections engaging the projections on the undersides of the arms to form a snap-in fastening.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAR 74 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEDMR 51974 $795,380

SHEET 2 [IF 2 1 CURTAIN TRACKS The present invention relates to curtain tracks and more particularly to a bracket and bracket system for supporting a curtain track.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a bracket system for supporting a curtain track comprising a first bracket-adapted to be attached to asupporting surface, and a second bracket removably connected to the first bracket for supporting a curtain track, one

nd bracket for supporting a curtain track being spaced from but releasably connected to the first bracket by means of a third, intermediate bracket, the connections between the first and third brackets and the third and second brackets being effected by one bracket of each pair having at least one projection which engages a recess of the other cooperating bracketvof the pair, and

the one bracket of each pair having a snap-in fastening portion which engages the other bracket of the pair to releasably secure the brackets of each pair together. by resilient deformation of said portions.

The basic system is therefore a bracket normally fixed to either wall or a ceiling, to which bracket is releasably attached a second bracket which is used to support a curtain trackfNormally a plurality of spaced bracket pairsare provided at intervals along a wall or ceiling to give full support to thecurtain track.

Theconnection between the twobrack etsis positive, making use of a resilient snap-in action of part of one bracket cooperating with the other'bracket. Thus connection between the brackets is not dependent on the load applied to the second track supporting bracket. If required, the second bracket'can be spaced fromthe first bracket byv the introduction therebetween'of said third,-intermediate bracket. This allows a curtain hanging from the. second bracket to be spaced from the supporting wall orwindow in the walli Int his case. the

connections between all the brackets are similar, the brackets being readily capable of separation if required. j

1 The intermediate bracket can also support a curtain track if desired. This may be,for example, to support an additional net curtain adjacent the window, the curtains proper being-supported by the second bracket as before. v

An advantage of the system of the invention is that the curtain track supported't herebycan be quickly and easily detached and removed, without using any tool, or requiring to unfasten anyscrews. The plurality of FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a furthersystem in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, show perspective views of three bracket parts of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a first bracket 1 made of nylon and releasably connected to a second bracket 2 which supports a curtain rail 3.

The bracket 1 is attached to either a wall or ceiling by means of a screw passing through either of the through apertures 4 or 5. Bracket 1 comprises two arms 6, 7 (FIG. 3a) which project away from the bracket and are spaced apart, being generally parallel. On the top side of each arm is a recess 8. A front edge of each arm tapers slightly to a crown 9. Beneath the crown 9 on the underside of each arm is a slight projection 10.

The second bracket 2 is solid. A front part 11 is of a width to be inserted between the arms of bracket 1. At the upper edge of the part 11 are two projections 12 which are coaxial. Adjacent and to the side of the lower 1 edge of part 11 are two other projections 13.

The bracket 2 is connected to the bracket 1 by mating the projections 12 with the recesses 8. The bracket 2 is then swung round and forced against the bracket 1 50 that the projections 13 snap-in over the projections 10 of bracket 1. In this position the brackets are positively held together. I

The bracket 2 has a re-entrant channel 14 which takes acomplernentary shaped portion 15 of the curtain track 3. The track is'maintained in place against accidental disturbance by the provision of a ridge 16 which causes the trackto be wedged to the bracket.

second brackets,- being attached to the track, are all simply detached from their cooperating firstor third brackets as the case may be andthe track removed.

The first brackets remain attached to the supporting surface.

The invention will now be particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a system in accordance with the invention,

;The lower portion of the track supports a plurality of gliders 17 from which a curtain is hung.

If the bracket 2 is required to be spaced from bracket l,an intermediate bracket 18 is used. The bracket 18 is elongate and of U.-shaped channel cross-section. One end 19 is shaped similarly to the part 11 of bracket 2 so thatthe bracket 18 can be connected to bracket 1 in the same way as was described for bracket 2. The opposite end of bracket 18 is'shaped similar to bracket 1 so that bracket 2 can be attached thereto as in FIG. 2.

If required a curtain track 20 can also be attached to the intermediate bracket 18 being passed through notches 21 in the sides of the bracket. The notches are slightly off set in order to hold the track in place.

It will be realised that an alternative way of spacing the bracket 2 from the supporting surface is to make one of the bracket 1 or 2 itself elongate. Preferably the bracket 1 is elongate and has the general shape of the combined brackets 1 and 3 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, except that the brackets are combined as one integral member. The bracket 2 is attached to the end of bracket 1 as described above.

It will be seen in the FIGS. 1 and 2 that tapers are provided on the adjacent edges ofeach pair of brackets. This is to concentrate the reactive forces between two connected brackets at the crown to facilitate the locking action.

A plurality of bracket systems arenormally to support a curtain track and can be spaced up to say l2 inches apart. When using an intermediate bracket 18, the brackets are preferably arranged so that, when unloaded, the bracket 18 slopes upwards slightly from bracket 1. Then on hanging a curtain to bracket 2, the bracket 18 would be brought down to horizontal.

ltwill be realised that a decorative device or pelmet can also be attached to .the bracket 2 or the track 3.

In a modification, not shown, the arms 6 and 7, recess 8 on the top of each arm, projection 10 on the underside of each arm, part 11 and projections 12 and 13 are interchanged between the bracket 1 and bracket 2, so that intermediate bracket 18, if used, has to be turned round end-to-end from the position shown.

I claim:

1. A bracket system for supporting a curtain track comprising first and second brackets each having a body, said first of said brackets having a connecting means including two laterally spaced arms projecting away from the body thereof, said arms having recesses in their upper surfaces, the second of said bracket having means for connecting it to the arms of said first bracket including a central portion insertable between said laterally spaced arms of said first bracket and two upper laterally projecting members extending from said central portion adapted to'be seated respectively in and mate with said recesses of said first bracket to form a pivot structure and cooperating means forming a snapin fastening, said cooperating means comprising a projection on the lower portion of each of said laterally spaced arms and a projection on the lower portion of the second bracket adapted to snap over a projection on at least one of said arms, one of said first and second brackets being adapted to be attached to a support, and the other of said first and second brackets being adapted to support a curtain track.

2. A bracket system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bracket not to be attached to the support comprises an elongated body structure one end of which comprises a connecting means including the recessed projecting arms while the opposite end comprises a connecting means including the central portion having two upper projecting members.

3. A bracket system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system includes an extension member intermediate between said first and second brackets, said extension member having one end thereof shaped like said first bracket for cooperation with said second bracket, and the other end of said extension member being shaped like said second bracket for cooperation with said first bracket whereby said first and second brackets are spaced from one another.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 1 3,795,380

DATED March 5, 1974 INVENTOR(S) Derek Turner it is certified that error appears in the above-identified paterit and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, under Assignee,

"Hunter Douglas N.V., Curacao, Netherlands" should read Hunter Douglas N.V. Quracao,

Netherlands Antilles.

Signed and Scaled this Third Day of July 1979 {SEAL} Arrest:

LUTRELLE F. PARKER Attestulg Ojficer Acting Commissioner ofPatelts (Trademarks 

1. A bracket system for supporting a curtain track comprising first and second brackets each having a body, said first of said brackets having a connecting means including two laterally spaced arms projecting away from the body thereof, said arms having recesses in their upper surfaces, the second of said bracket having means for connecting it to the arms of said first bracket including a central portion insertable between said laterally spaced arms of said first bracket and two upper laterally projecting members extending from said central portion adapted to be seated respectively in and mate with said recesses of said first bracket to form a pivot structure and cooperating means forming a snap-in fastening, said cooperating means comprising a projection on the lower portion of each of said laterally spaced arms and a projection on the lower portion of the second bracket adapted to snap over a projection on at least one of said arms, one of said first and second brackets being adapted to be attached to a support, and the other of said first and second brackets being adapted to support a curtain track.
 2. A bracket system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bracket not to be attached to the support comprises an elongated body structure one end of which comprises a connecting means including the recessed projecting arms while the opposite end comprises a connecting means including the central portion having two upper projecting members.
 3. A bracket system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system includes an extension member intermediate between said first and second brackets, said extension member having one end thereof shaped like said first bracket for cooperation with said second bracket, and the other end of said extension member being shaped like said second bracket for cooperation with said first bracket whereby said first and second brackets are spaced from one another. 